Yates gave them all the trouble he could while they tied his elbows and wrists together, offering sardonic suggestions and cursing their clumsiness. Renmark submitted quietly. When the operation was finished, the professor said with the calm confidence of one who has an empire behind him and knows it:
“I warn you, sir, that this outrage is committed on British soil; and that I, on whom it is committed, am a British subject.”
“Heavens and earth, Renmark, if you find it impossible to keep your mouth shut, do not use the word ‘subject’ but ‘citizen.’”
“I am satisfied with the word, and with the protection given to those who use it.”
“Look here, Renmark; you had better let me do the talking. You will only put your foot in it. I know the kind of men I have to deal with; you evidently don’t.”
In tying the professor they came upon the pistol in his coat pocket. Murphy held it up to the light.
“I thought you said you were unarmed?” remarked the captain severely, taking the revolver in his hand.
“I was unarmed. The revolver is mine, but the professor would not let me use it. If he had, all of you would be running for dear life through the woods.”
“You admit that you are a British subject?” said the captain to Renmark, ignoring Yates.
“He doesn’t admit it, he brags of it,” said the latter before Renmark could speak. “You can’t scare him; so quit this fooling, and let us know how long we are to stand here trussed up like this.”